German unemployment drops far more than forecast in February

People take a break as they visit a job fair for migrants to provide information about job opportunities all over the country in Berlin, Germany, January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

March 1, 2019

BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s jobless total fell far more than expected in February, data showed on Friday, and the unemployment rate remained at a record low, boosting expectations that private consumption will underpin growth in Europe’s largest economy this year.

The number of people out of work decreased by 21,000 to 2.236 million, seasonally-adjusted data showed. That compared with the forecast for a drop of 5,000.

The unemployment rate remained at 5.0 percent, the lowest since German reunification in 1990.